Improvement in flood-gates



R. H. c. RHEA.

,FLOOD-GATE. 1

Patented March 7,1876.

' mama: %w

. monuns N. PETERS. PHOTO LITHOGRAP UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT H. O. RHEA, OF WAVEB-LY, (UNIONTOWN P. O.,) KENTUCKY.

IMPROVEMENT IN FLOOD-GATES.

I Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 174,441 I, dated March 7, l876; application filed January 22, 1876. I

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ROBERT H. 0. RHEA, of Waverly, (Uniontown P. '0.,) in the county of Union and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Flood-Gates, of which the following is a speci fication:

Figure 1 is a front view of my improved flood-gate, seen from the down-stream side.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section of the same, taken through the line a: m, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The object of this invention is to furnish an improved flood-gate for water-courses which shall he so constructed that it will rise with the rise of the water, so as to offer no obstruction to the flow of the water or to the drift floating in the water, and will thus cause no damming of the water above it to cause the overflow of low lands, the washing away of the soil beneath the gate, or the deposition of sediment above said gate, and which, at the same time, shall be simple in construction, strong and durable, not being liable to be swept away by the water, or carried away by the drift floating therein.

The invention consists in an improved floodgate, formed of boards, planks, or sections, hinged to each other or attached to chains or other flexible connections in such a way that the lower part of each upper board, plank, or section may overlap the upper part of each lower -board, plank, or section upon the up stream side, as hereinafter fully described.

A represents the timber upon which the gate is hung, and which extends across the stream, and is secured to posts B or other supports upon the banks of said stream. 0 are boards or planks of any desired length, and of convenient width, which are hinged to each other or attached to chains or other flexible connections D, in such a way that the lower part of each upper board, plank, or section may overlap the upper part of the upstream side of each lower board, plank, or section, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The upper parts of the chains D or rods attached t9 said upper parts are hung upon hooks, staples, or other supports attached to the timber A.

By this construction, as the water rises the lowest section, 0, will float upon it, and as the water continues to rise the section 0, in consecutive order, will float upon it, and any drift that may be floatingon the water will strike against the smooth surface of one or the other of said sections 0, glance down and pass beneath it, there being no edges for the drift to strike against, and no opening to receive limbs of trees, weeds, or other fine drift, so that there can be no obstruction of the water and no consequent dam ming and back flow.

The gate may extend entirely across the water-course, or stakes E may be driven at Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- An improved flood-gate, formed of boards, planks, or sections 0, hinged to each other or attached to chains or other flexible connections, D, in such a way that the lower part of each upper board, plank, or section may overlap the upper part of each lower board, plank, or section upon the upstream side, substantially as herein shown and described.

ROBERT H. O. RHEA. Witnesses:

ALEX. KING, Tnos. J. AToN. 

